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The Nigerian leader, General Yakubu Gowon, declared Tuesday (18 February) that the power of detention without trial in his country will still be compatible with an overall respect for the law.

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The Nigerian leader, General Yakubu Gowon, declared Tuesday (18 February) that the power of detention without trial in his country will still be compatible with an overall respect for the law.

General Gowon was addressing the opening session of the Sixth Commonwealth Law Ministers' conference in Lagos.

He said he would not be able to give a detailed judicial analysis of his country's system of military government but that the outside world should judge the administration.

The Head of State was welcomed to the conference by Dr. N.B. Graham-Douglas, Nigeria's Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, who was elected chairman.

The conference, which runs until Saturday (22 February), will discuss, among other things, the reciprocal enforcement of judgements between Commonwealth countries, extradition and harmonisation of patent and trademark laws.

Seminars and work-shops on topics of possible future legal cooperation are also being held.